Opioid Agonist Treatment
Encyclopedia
Opioid Agonist Treatment, or OAT, refers to the treatment of a narcotics addiction
in humans via the administration of similar opioid
drugs, agonists, and the resultant cross tolerance and physical dependence. Methadone
and Buprenorphine
are the most common drugs used in agonist treatment. Methadone
is a full opioid agonist and so is the preferred treatment in heroin addiction as it creates a feeling of euphoria, though not as strong as from taking heroin; however, after repeated doses, tolerance develops to the euphoric effects of methadone and eventually becomes minimal or nonexistent. Buprenorphine
is a partial opioid agonist and has substantially less severe withdrawal effects versus methadone and other strong opioids making it very desirable as a treatment. However, the high from Buprenorphine
is also reduced leading to addicted individuals preferring methadone treatment.
The use of agonist drugs to treat a narcotics addiction is tightly regulated in the United States
. Diversion, or potential diversion, of agonist drugs is often the domain of the Drug Enforcement Administration
, as they are defined as criminal acts. Only facilities accredited by CSAT, the Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, are able to provide this service in the U.S.
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
in humans via the administration of similar opioid
Opioid
An opioid is a psychoactive chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract...
drugs, agonists, and the resultant cross tolerance and physical dependence. Methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
and Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid that is used...
are the most common drugs used in agonist treatment. Methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
is a full opioid agonist and so is the preferred treatment in heroin addiction as it creates a feeling of euphoria, though not as strong as from taking heroin; however, after repeated doses, tolerance develops to the euphoric effects of methadone and eventually becomes minimal or nonexistent. Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid that is used...
is a partial opioid agonist and has substantially less severe withdrawal effects versus methadone and other strong opioids making it very desirable as a treatment. However, the high from Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid that is used...
is also reduced leading to addicted individuals preferring methadone treatment.
The use of agonist drugs to treat a narcotics addiction is tightly regulated in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Diversion, or potential diversion, of agonist drugs is often the domain of the Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
, as they are defined as criminal acts. Only facilities accredited by CSAT, the Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, are able to provide this service in the U.S.